The latest Office of Rail and Road (ORR) statistics reveal that total rail passenger revenue, adjusted for inflation, was up 8% (£215 million) in April – June (Q1) 2024, compared with the same period last year, reaching a record high for both revenue and total journeys post-pandemic.

Business travel saw the most substantial year-on-year increase, up 21% (£41 million). Such a sizeable increase could reflect a modal shift to rail and a rising number of companies and individuals choosing to use the train over other transport methods to get to business events or meetings.

The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) is supporting business travellers to choose rail through their Green Travel Pledge initiative.

On 30 July 2024, RDG released data on the Rail Data Marketplace that tracked carbon emissions from over 80,000 business journeys across Britain. For 93.8% of those journeys, rail travel resulted in lower carbon emissions compared with using a petrol or diesel car.

For example, the average petrol/diesel car emissions (KGCO2e) for travelling from London to Leeds is 55.73 KGCO2e. The same journey by rail creates just 4.23 KGCO2e, meaning the carbon impact of a rail journey on this route is one thirteenth of that made by car.

RDG is urging businesses to show their commitment to sustainability by using the data to adapt travel policies, commit to environmental goals and make greener day-to-day choices.

Revenue from commuting has also continued to increase consistently since last year, which supports recent evidence that more people are going into the office on more days.

Leisure travel saw another boost, a 7% (£107 million) year-on-year increase. Leisure travel witnessed the quickest post-pandemic recovery of the three sectors and has continued to grow in Q1 of 2024-2025. During this period, Taylor Swift’s sold-out UK stadium tour led to localised surges in demand.

GBRTT’s Customer and Revenue Growth Director Suzanne Donnelly said: “It’s encouraging to see the significant increase in business travel by rail, particularly knowing the impact this has on reducing carbon emissions.

“We know there is a sizeable segment of passengers and potential passengers who value the speed of travelling by train but also the comfort, experience and ability to work on board. We also want businesses to know and shout about the greener choices they are making by choosing rail.

“The year-on-year revenue increase across business, leisure, and commuting shows once again that there is a large, credible opportunity to grow passenger volume and revenue across the country.

“Smarter, simpler and more joined-up decision making will help put the railway on a more financially sustainable footing, better able to meet customer needs and support national and regional economic and environmental goals.”